The Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero, has urged Ugandan students to embrace technological change, emphasizing its role in accelerating productivity, expanding market access, fostering innovation, and improving service delivery.
Speaking at the launch of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Career Expo 2026 at Makerere University on March 11th, Dr. Musenero highlighted that industrial revolutions are not just about gadgets but about increasing the speed and scale of value creation.
Organized under the theme “Man Vs Machine: Thriving in the Age of Automation,” the Career Expo will run across 14 universities and tertiary institutions between March 11th and April 21st, 2026. Partners include Absa Bank Uganda, Federation of Uganda Employers, Fenon Entertainment, ACCA, Pepsi, and AI Studio Uganda.
Dr. Musenero noted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a core part of Uganda’s ongoing digital transformation. “Every industrial revolution starts small, grows, takes over, and eventually becomes unavoidable. Digital transformation, including AI, shifts value creation from traditional parts of the economy into the digital economy,” she said.
At the event, Absa Bank Uganda Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer, Michael Segwaya, stressed that AI is changing workplaces rapidly.
“The real question is not whether AI will shape the future of work, but how prepared we are to work alongside it. Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world, with nearly three-quarters of the population under 30,” he said. Segwaya added that AI assistants are automating routine tasks, freeing employees to focus on higher-value decisions.
Gerald Paul Kasaato, Deputy Managing Director of NSSF, emphasized the need to equip students for the evolving job market.
“Every year, over 25,000 students graduate from universities and tertiary institutions in Uganda. The expo allows them to understand workplace realities and prepare for meaningful careers,” he said.
The Expo also promotes practical programs such as Absa Bank Uganda’s Ready to Work digital skills platform and the ElevateHer programme, certified by Microsoft, designed to give young women job-ready AI skills.
Organizers said the Career Expo empowers students with insights on emerging skills, digital transformation, financial literacy, and long-term savings planning. Through panel discussions, mentorship engagements, and interactive sessions, students gain practical knowledge to navigate an increasingly automated labor market.
